Missing British National in Egypt

This news article was published under
the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt expresses concern over missing British National, Hisham Morsi, in Egypt

The Foreign Office Minister said:

I am deeply concerned about Hisham Morsi, who was last seen being removed from Tahrir Square on 31 January 2011. Eye witnesses claim that he was arrested, but it is unclear by whom.

We had been given public and private assurances by the Egyptian Government that no activists remained in detention. In light of this, I call on the Egyptian authorities to urgently clarify whether Mr Morsi has been arrested, and if so, to inform our Embassy of his whereabouts and provide our Embassy with full and immediate consular access. I raised this case with the Egyptian Ambassador yesterday, and our Embassy in Cairo continues to make representations to the authorities in Egypt.

The Egyptian Government has committed itself to releasing all detained protestors, not to arrest anyone for expressing ideas and opinions and to stop arresting and harassing journalists, foreigners and members of the opposition. It is important that these commitments are implemented immediately.